Clothing closure



June 17, 1969 s, DEFAZK) ETAL 3,449,764

CLOTHING CLOSURE Filed Oct. 25, 1966 Fig. 2

Benjamin S. Defdzla John Silvio, Jr.

Cuesur J. Zemme United States Patent 3,449,764 CLOTHING CLOSURE BenjaminS. De Fazio, Westbury, John Silvia, Jr., Brooklyn, and Caesar J. Zemme,New York, N.Y., assignors to the United States of America as representedby the Secretary of the Navy Filed Oct. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 589,472 Int.Cl. A44b 19/32 US. 'Cl. 2-96 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Theinvention consists essentially of a self-closing double flap closurepreferably used in combination with a slide fastener to protect thewearer against a variety of weather conditions. The flaps are positionedbetween the fastener and the wearer and overlap each other. The flapadjacent the wearer is the wider of the two and overlaps the flapadjacent the fastener, forming a double barrier which is adapted forinstallation on a variety of types and styles of garments.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to garment closures and more particularly to aself-closing closure for outer garments which effectively resistspenetration of water and Wind. A continuing need exists in all outergarments generally and raingear and windgear especially for an easilyoperated, inexpensive yet effective closure to secure the front openingagainst the penetration of wind and rain. Such a need has resulted inthe evolution of the parka style garment, among others, whereimpermeability is required. Having no front opening, however, the parkastyle requires the garment to be made oversize and to be equipped with agusset and drawstring arrangement at the neck area to enable the garmentto be donned and removed while still assuring a watertight seal at theneckline between the garment and the attached hood. Although adequateprotection is obtained with this arrangement, personnel wearing thegarment dislike the drawstrings. Another inconvenience is that wearersoften become overheated since there is no means for opening the parka atthe front during periods of high activity or when they mustintermittently enter sheltered areas while wearing the garment.

Parka wearers in most instances do not have time to remove their parkasduring alternate, intermittent work on non-work periods basicallybecause it is time consuming to do so but also because removalinterferes with the performance of their duties. Wet-Weather parkas aswell as jackets and other types of outer clothing sometimes are providedwith partial or full front openings which have protective storm flapscomprising inner and outer combinations of flaps. These flaps, however,require snap fasteners or buttons to hold them in place. None of thesnap or button fasteners have been completely effective in resisting thepenetration of water and wind, and frequently the snaps and buttonsbreak or come off leaving the outer flap loose in those places. Such acondition can be and often is dangerous since, among other results, theloose fiap may become caught thereby imperiling the wearer who often maybecome occupied and forget the dangers created by the appendage.

The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of prior closures byproviding a self-closing double flap closure in which the flaps overlapeach other and are posi- "ice tioned behind a slide fastener or otherjoining means which effects closure. The bottom flap, which is the onemost remote from the fastener, in a preferred embodiment is made widerthan the flap nearest the fastener. A variety of flap arrangements areavailable depending upon the type of garment, i.e. whether permeable orimpermeable, the kind of protection provided for, i.e. raingear, coldweather, etc. and the style of garment, i.e. parka with hood, jacket,trouser, etc.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method ofand means for effecting closure of outer garments that is simple andself-closing and will act to keep the wearer of the garment protectedfrom Wind and Water indefinitely.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothing closure forouter garments that will permit the garments to be donned and removedintermittently without difficulty.

A further object of this invention is to provide a clothing closure forouter garments which can be opened as desired to provide ventilation oraccess within the garment without difiiculty.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome apparent from the following de tailed description thereof whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which likenumerals represent like parts throughout and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of an embodiment of the inventionapplied to a rain-impermeable garment; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of an embodiment of the inventionapplied to an insulated cold-weather impermeable garment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the body of a garment 11 is folded under to presentbody facings 12 and 13 to which tape portions 14 and 15, respectively,of a slide fastener 17 such as a zipper may be attached. A pair ofoverlapping folded moisture barrier flaps 20 and 21 positioned closestto the wearer and an intermediate spacer such as two-ply spacer 23 topermit freedom of operation of the slide fastener complete the fabricelements of the closure. Each of the foregoing fabric elements, namelybody 11, body facings 12 and 13, moisture flaps 20 and 21 and spacer 23,is fabricated of material coated with a coating appropriate to the useintended.

Each moisture flap is folded in half and cemented to itself as indicatedat 25 and 26 forming double plies of protective material. Spacer 23 isfolded in half as shown and together with bottom moisture flap 21 isstitch-joined to tape 14 of fastener 17 as indicated by stitching 27.Top moisture flap 20 is stitch-joined to tape 15 of fastener 17 asindicated by stitching 30 after which bottom flap 21, spacer 23 and tape14 are simultaneously stitch-joined by stitching 31 to body facing 12 onone side of the closure. On the other side of the closure top flap 20and tape 15 are stitch-joined by stitching 32 to body facing 13 tocomplete the formation of the moisture barrier closure. Spacer 23extends inwardly past the fold end 35 of top flap 20 and acts both as aguide for fastener 17 and a preventive forestalling top flap 20 frombeing caught in slide fastener 17. The body 11 on each side of thefastener is folded back over facings 12 and 13 and cemented thereto asindicated at 36 and 37, forming a waterproof seam.

In FIG. 2 a closure similar to that in FIG. 1 but for impermeableinsulated cold weather type clothing is shown comprising the body of thegarment 40 which is folded under on either side of a fastener 41 to formbody facings 42 and 43, respectively. Tapes 45 and 46 of fastener 41preferably extend outward from the fastener a distance substantiallyequal to the length of the respective body facings 42 and 43. A topmoisture barrier flap 48 is folded in half with the halves separated bya stiffening interlining 49 preferably made of such material as lightcotton warp, spun hair, wool filling cloth or non-woven Pellon-typefabric, the flap and interlining being positioned as shown beneathfastener 41 and tapes 45 and 46 in the final assembly. These fabricelements, namely body 40, body facings 42 and 43 and moisture barrierflap 48 preferably are fabricated of a suitable permeable windresistantfabric as is a lining 50' which preferably is folded as indicated toform lining facing 51. A bottom moisture barrier flap 52 having aninsulation means 53 made of substantially Vs inch thick polyvinylchloride closed cell foam or similar suitable material inserted betweenthe plies thereof and another lining 54 Which is folded as indicatcd toform lining facing 55 complete the elements of this closure embodiment.

Moisture barrier flaps 48 and 52 are folded in half around their inserts49 and 53, respectively, and stitched at the fold end by stitchings 57and 58, respectively, to form three-ply flaps. Lining facings 51 and 55are positioned on respecitve ends of flaps 48 and 52 as indicated andeach lining and lining facing is stitch-joined by stitchings 59 and 60,respectively, to its respective moisture barrier flap to complete theinner construction of the closure. Body 40 and body facings 42 and 43are stitchjoined by stitchings 63 and 64, respectively, to theirrespective moisture barrier flap to complete the closure construction.

A wearer receives greatly improved protection from the closure of thepresent invention over those used in the past since the moisturebarriers keep the wearer dry indefinitely and the features of theembodiment of FIG. 2 additionally protect against Wind. The invention issimple in construction and easy to operate so that parkas fittedtherewith now may be made close fitting because the garment does nothave to be doffed and donned over the head and shoulders. Garmentshaving the closures disclosed herein also may be donned and removedquickly and without difiiculty under conditions requiring the same suchas intermittently moving in and out of sheltered areas. The wearerfurther may open the slide fastener and flaps to the extent desired toreduce heat buildup thereby avoiding the necessity of having to removethe garment.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings.

What is claimed is: 1. In an outer waterproof garment, a closure downthe front thereof, comprising at least one set of moisture barrier flapsand a slide fastener secured thereto and to said garment;

said flaps of different width and positioned in overlapping arrangementbetween the wearer and the garment with the wider flap adjacent thewearer;

said flaps each being formed of material folded so as to provide duallayers of material;

said garment folded inwardly in each side of the closure;

said garment folds cemented to said garment and said flap folds cementedto said flaps to form a plurality of waterproof barriers;

sad flaps each secured along one edge to a respective side of said slidefastener and said garment at said closure; and

a spacer member interposed between one side of said slide fastener andthe unsecured edge of the narrower of said flaps,

whereby said spacer member causes the narrower of said flaps to bepressed along its entire width against the wider of said flaps andfacilitates movement of said slide fastener by spacing said narrowerflap therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,896,183 2/ 1933 Manson 2792,002,306 5/1935 Berlin et a1. 2128 XR 2,148,269 2/1939 Koch 296 XR2,371,776 3/1945 Van Orman 24-2051 2,422,249 6/1947 Malluk 24-205.1 X2,492,655 12/ 1949 Rubin 24205.1 X 2,644,948 7/1953 Gutmann 269.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 192,870 11/ 1957 Austria. 1,036,864 4/ 1953 France.1,039,990 5/ 3 France. 1,068,380 2/ 1954 France.

RICHARD J. SCANLAN, JR., Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 282, 128, 270

